Decided to crack on with the journey and save the wildlife tour for southern Africa, unfortunately with all the best intention and vision Gabon just isn't set up for tourism yet.

Had the the most amazing ride out of Lope, the total ride was 230km of off road dirt...the perfect kind...not too much mud! Up to 90kmph on mountain dirt...ready for the Dakar!

Bitter sweet as we finished the mountain track, stopped for a drink at the road builders village and some hunters arrived from the forest. As soon as he put his pack down it was clear what he had... The screams gave it away... A young chimpanzee!

Heart breaking, hoped to see them in the wild and failed only to see then being poached on the border of the reserve.

Looked so frightened and so human tied up in the basket! Devastated...for him... Upset with myself for not doing anything about it.

Had to leave when they started teasing it!Put a real damper on the day after such a high.